ill 



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272 



SLAVERY. 



ing callous the sense of shame. I have observed, 

 and have often heard it remarked, that scarcely 

 any of the slaves who receive frequent correc- 

 tion, ever gain their freedom through their own 

 exertions. The bad dispositions and inclinations 

 of many, and the indifference which is produced 

 in others by severe punishments, sufficiently ac- 

 count for this fact. * 



The Creole slaves are usually employed as 

 tradesmen and household servants; even upon 

 the sugar-plantations this is the case, where they 

 are not more numerous than what are necessary 

 to fill these departments ; to the Africans the 

 field labour is chiefly allotted. The negroes are 

 sent to work as the sun rises, and far from being 

 more capable of exertion in the early part of the 

 morning than under the mid-day heat, the Afri- 

 cans arc inactive and languid, until the increas- 

 ing power of the sun removes the chill which 

 they receive from the cool morning air. They 

 frequently leave their huts wrapt up in their co- 

 verlids of baize, seemingly much distressed by 

 the cold. The negroes breakfast about eight 

 o'clock, and for this meal half an hour or less is 

 allowed ; and some masters expect that their 

 slaves shall breakfast before they commence 



* Might not an act be passed for the British Colonies y 

 obliging the master to manumit his slave, on the fair value of 

 the individual being tendered ? However, this is not a place 

 for discussion. 



